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Talk:Stationary phase approximation

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Error in rough idea

If many sinusoids have the same phase and they are added together, they will add constructively. If, however, these same sinusoids have phases which change rapidly as the frequency changes, they will add destructively.

If the phases are unrelated, then the sinusoids add incoherently, not destructively. Destructive interference requires coherence, i.e. definite phase relationship. —Keenan Pepper 18:44, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
The above wording may not be the best, but it is trying to capture the difference between constructive and destructive interference, respectively, of a set of sinusoids that are approximately in phase and a set whose phase slews rapidly as you sweep across the set. Incoherence requires a random element that is missing here.

Question about the example

How did the dependency of change into ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.144.162.128 (talk) 20:19, 12 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]